For the last decade most of us in the auto repair business have bemoaned the extended service intervals promoted by most car makers. Simply stated, this means that vehicle manufacturers have been extending the time and mileage between oil changes and other fluid services. We have tried to educate our customers that good service will prevent costly repairs. Now, courtesy of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, we have the numbers to prove that.

The chart below clearly shows the upward trend in replacement of many common parts on the modern car. Notice the last two lines of the chart, maintenance services performed are down and the others that indicate repairs are up. Some have almost doubled.